Ugo Ehiogu has revealed his frustration that Middlesbrough have not mounted a serious assault on a Champions League spot.

The Teessiders today face a Liverpool side battling it out with Newcastle and Aston Villa for that treasured fourth place in the Premiership.

But while confident his side are capable of going head-to-head with the Anfield outfit on a one-off basis, Ehiogu fears Boro are the best part of two seasons and a handful of new signings away from a more sustained challenge to Gerard Houllier's men.

"I still think we're probably a season and a half and three or four players away from where Liverpool are," said Ehiogu.

"If you look at their squad, the players they've got, it's phenomenol and we've got a long way to go to catch up.

"But then there've been so many games when we should have had an extra point or two and on the whole we're probably in deficit for games we should have won and points we should have picked up.

"That would have inched us closer to Liverpool because I think they would admit themselves that they are under-achieving a little bit.

"It just goes to show how close the race for the Champions League is; what are they on, 53 points?

"With games we should have won, points we could have picked up, it is frustrating.

"Had we had a bit more luck, a bit of application, better finishing, we could definitely have been challenging.

"There's so many teams bunched up in there separated by five or six points, and anyone on their day can give anyone else a game.

"If the boys are up for it we've proved this season we can give anybody a game and I don't see it being any different on Sunday - it'll be a good test.

"Michael Owen's had a bit of an up and down season but I think he's just coming back to full fitness.

"He's still managed to score 15-20 goals, he's got pace, mobility, sharpness in the box, he's got a very good package that you need to deal with.

"On top of that you've got the Kewells, the Smicers, Cheyrou - there are players who can win games for them all over the park."

That strength in depth is something Boro are patiently striving for, and Ehiogu would welcome additions in midfield and attack.

"Predominantly goals win matches and in the second half of the season we're second top scorers so you can't really grumble about that," he said.

"But there have still been games when we could have been more clinical and every great side has got three or four very, very good strikers.

"That's an issue and we're a little bit light in centre midfield if George Boateng gets injured, but you always need to be looking to strengthen all areas.

"If we defend well, we've shown we've got the boys in midfield and up front to create chances.

"It took a lot to go a little more adventurous in January, February time.

"There has been a freedom about our play since winning the Carling Cup, we have tried to play.

"Last year we had Joseph-Desire Job in the hole so we did play three up front but he was working backwards.

"This year's been a slight variation because Juninho's come into the equation more.

"A nice balance would be good because we kept a lot of clean sheets earlier in the season.

"We can't be to gung-ho against good, top-quality sides because we'll just get picked off but there are a lot of games that are definitely winnable."

With Juninho missing with a thigh strain and Chris Riggott doubtful, McClaren must decided whether to throw in 17-year-old Matthew Bates at centrehalf or drop Bolo Zenden back to leftback with Franck Queudrue moving into the middle.

Jonathan Greening is set to step into Juninho's role, unless McClaren brings in Stewart Downing and reverts to a 4-4-2 formation.